This week’s Theme of the Week has been Passion. I probably should have done this theme last week during Valentine’s Day week. However, last week’s focus on Rewards & Awards followed on the heels of the previous week’s theme of Success, so it made sense to do that theme last week, and do Passion this week.
Also, the passion we are talking about here is not the red-hot passion of lovers. It is the passion that each of us needs to have for any endeavors that we embark upon for which we want to be our best and maximize our chances for the greatest success possible.
This post is an excerpt from my gift book for senior athletes called, Senior Salute. I wrote Senior Salute for coaches or parents to give to their senior athletes at the end of their senior seasons, usually at the End-of-Season Banquet. The post is taken from the chapter called “Passion.” There are more quotes in the chapter in the book than those you will read here, but the ones here are about the important role that passion plays in creating the success that we seek.
For more analysis of the concept of Passion, listen to Episode 153 of the Great Quotes for Coaches Podcast or watch the video Passion on the SlamDunk Success YouTube Channel.
“If you don’t love what you do, you won’t do it with much conviction or passion.”
— Mia Hamm
No matter what you do in life, do it with passion. If you don’t have passion for the things you endeavor to do, you will struggle to succeed.
When asked what they want to do when they grow up, many young people will often say something like, “Make a lot of money!” However, many of them soon find out that if they are not passionate about that which they are putting all their time, effort, and energy into, they lose their enjoyment of it. They grow tired of having to do it even though it is something that is helping them achieve what they thought they wanted. They find that making a lot of money can’t ever take the place of passion.
“Purpose is the reason you journey. Passion is the fire that lights the way.”
— Anonymous
Passion ignites us to do our best. It fires us up to go out and attack whatever it is that we are passionate about. Those with passion bring more to the experience, both for themselves and for others, and their passion is contagious. Other people often catch their passion and begin to feed off of it.
“The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire.”
— Ferdinand Foch
When people in a group see and hear others displaying passion and enthusiasm, it spreads to all involved. This can be done by merely being on a team or in an organization with passionate people, but it is accomplished best when the passionate people intentionally work to develop that same passion in the other people in that organization. Pretty soon those who have picked up on the original leader’s passion start spreading that same level of passion to others. When this happens, there is no stopping it, and success is inevitable.
“Nothing great in the world was ever accomplished without passion.”
— Hebbel
Look at anyone who has excelled in some endeavor, and chances are you will see a person who had a strong passion for that endeavor. Life is more exciting for people with passion. They wake up energized every day, looking forward to whatever it is that they are going to do. You rarely hear them saying things like “I have to…” They approach their lives with an attitude that says, “I get to…”
“Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.”
— Oprah Winfrey
Attack your endeavors with that kind of passion, excitement, energy, and enthusiasm. Put your heart and soul into all you do and show it to the world. Other people on your teams and organizations will soon be joining you with that same level of passion and enthusiasm that you brought to them. When that happens, nothing can stop you from becoming all that you seek to become.
“People with great passion can make the impossible happen.”
— Anonymous
As I said earlier, this post is from my gift book for senior athletes called, Senior Salute. Right now, it is on sale, along with my other gift book for graduating seniors, Inspiration for the Graduate. Go to the Shop Page to check them out.